Gas Line Leak Temporarily Closed Hamilton Area Road

At about sunset Sunday afternoon, a pedestrian noted a strong natural gas smell near the intersection of U.S. 93 and Golf Course Road at the south end of Hamilton. NorthWestern Energy crews, Hamilton law enforcement and Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department responded and closed a portion of Golf Course Road while the source of the smell was found. An underground small natural gas line near the Montana Rail Link crossing was leaking. The frozen earth slowed the digging progress, and the road was closed for about 5 hours.

At one point, Golf Course Road was closed between U.S. 93 and Kurtz Lane. A few nearby homes and a business were evacuated as a precaution. The leak was found and repaired before midnight. No injuries and no damage. Hamilton firemen, who were on standby duty and traffic control, were on one-hour shifts due to the temperatures near zero.

Road closure barricades were put up for a short time Sunday night on Golf Course Road in Hamilton, due to a natural gas leak. (Steve Fullerton, Townsquare Media)